Isaiah 26:3-4 (AMP) “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]. Trust [confidently] in the Lord forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].”
Philippians 4:6-7 (Phillips) Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.
Observation
The world around us seems in such upheaval – people calling what is evil good and what is good evil. Crime is on the rise, our government is crippled and people are celebrating acts of terror. It seems like the perfect moment to lose our sense of peace and security. However, the perfect and constant peace, shalom (resting in Christ), the peace of God is not shaken by circumstances around us. Circumstances are temporary and fluctuating; the peace of God is everlasting (“perfect and constant”).
To have and rest in this perfect and constant peace requires a close and consistent relationship with the God of Peace. One key phrase is He “will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.” Another is “one whose mind is steadfast…Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].” Any enforced peace (essentially, peace-keeping, lack of conflict) will pass and provides only a temporary pause in the chaos and upheaval. Only Shalom, the peace that comes from resting in Christ Jesus, will make real change, turning the hearts of hatred into hearts hungry for perfect and constant peace that only comes from trusting in God.
Impact on Me
So, I have been thinking about what resting in Christ Jesus requires. I think it requires some detachment from the events around me. I don’t mean ignoring what is going on, but rather allowing all the events and circumstances to become prayer points, actually putting them all in God’s hands to work out. If I really believe that God is sovereign, almighty, omniscient, and working His plan from before the creation of the Earth, I have to make a decision whether I trust Him or not in the face of dire circumstances which seem to be evil conquering good.
This requires me to be ready to say “yes” to what He requires of me, whether action or inaction. Peace-making is not the absence of conflict or avoiding risk; it is being an agent of His grace, mercy and forgiveness so the Holy Spirit can begin resolving the root of the conflict, dissolving the animosity, the division, the hatred. This kind of miracle only happens when I bring God’s peace into the fray with me. I can only be that kind of agent (the kind that Jesus was on this earth) when my heart and mind are stayed on the shalom that only God can provide. He is the only source of that perfect and constant peace. His plan is for all of us to be His agents of peace to the world – regardless of how we are received.
Prayer
Lord God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, I worship You and purposely embrace Your peace. First, make me full of mercy, grace and forgiveness so I can move past terrifying or wounding circumstances to be what You have called me to be and do what You have called me to do. Teach me to walk in that perfect and constant peace, Your shalom, the wholeness that comes from resting in Christ Jesus. Draw me closer to You, deeper into relationship with You, so I can be a better and more effective agent of Your peace to the world. I ask this all in the name of Jesus. Make it so.